Today’s Always Uplifting Verse and Devotional to start your day off right!

Leave Hope Wherever You Go

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2 Corinthians 1:4 — He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

There are certain signs on a road trip that can change the mood of the entire car.

“Rest Area, 42 Miles.” Nobody gets excited.

But then a different sign appears. Just one word changes everything:

“Buc-ee’s.”

Suddenly, everybody wakes up! You need a snack. Someone else needs coffee. Everyone definitely needs a bathroom break, and somehow, a quick stop turns into forty-five minutes where you’re walking out with beef jerky, homemade fudge, and a beaver shirt you didn’t know you needed.

Now here’s the funny part.

What started as a Texas thing is popping up all over the country. More locations are opening, including one right here in Ruston. It’s amazing how one place became something people actually look forward to.

And it makes me think.

God has a way of putting people on our path who leave us feeling better than where they found us.

Maybe it’s the friend who listens, the coworker who encourages you, the teacher who believes in you, or the stranger whose kindness shows up at exactly the right moment.

Sometimes the very comfort God has given us in our own hard seasons becomes the comfort we’re able to offer someone else.

The Bible reminds us that God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we have received from Him.

What we receive from God can become something we give to someone else.

So what if today, wherever God takes you, you became that person? The one who speaks hope. The one who chooses kindness. The one who reminds someone they’re not walking through life alone.

You never know. A few words filled with God’s love might become the stop someone needed most.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Who is someone God has used to bring you comfort or encouragement when you were going through a difficult time?
  • What is a comfort God has given you in one of your own hard seasons that you might be able to offer someone else?
  • Is there someone in your life right now who may need a listening ear, a kind word, or a reminder that they’re not alone?
  • What would it look like for you to be the person who “leaves someone feeling better than where you found them” today?
  • Who might God be putting in your path today that needs the comfort and hope He has already given you?
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United We Still Stand

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1 Corinthians 1:10 — I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

We will never forget.

No, we will never forget.

It’s been twenty-five years since 9/11, but doesn’t it sometimes feel like yesterday?

I remember how quickly everything seemed to change. One moment, we were just going about our ordinary lives, and then suddenly, our country was hurting. We were watching the same images, hearing the same stories, and wondering what would happen next.

That’s part of why we say those words, “We will never forget.”

Because some moments are too important to forget. It can be so easy to look back and get stuck on the tragedy itself. To remember the fear, the loss, and the people whose lives were changed forever.

But there’s something else I like to think about on 9-11. Do you remember how unified we were as Americans? I mean, wasn’t that beautiful? For a little while, so many of the things that normally divided us seemed smaller. We hurt together. We grieved together. We looked out for each other.

I think that’s worth remembering too. Because there was a “togetherness” in those days where we became willing to lay aside differences and stand together as one.

Wouldn’t it be something if we didn’t have to wait for another tragedy to do that? Couldn’t we carry that same spirit into the grocery store, into our neighborhoods, into our workplaces, and into conversations we have with people who don’t look like us or think exactly like us.

Scripture calls the church to live that way too. Christians shouldn’t be fractured by constant division. No, the heart of Christ has a way of turning strangers into neighbors and neighbors into family.

Because we were never meant to live as isolated people, pulling farther and farther apart. We were made to belong to one another and to become something more like a family.

Wouldn’t that be great?

Maybe that’s how we remember.

And maybe, just maybe, it’ll keep on going.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What do you remember most about the unity and compassion people showed after 9/11?
  • What differences or disagreements are making it harder for you to live in harmony with someone right now?
  • How might the love of Christ help you see someone who is different from you as a neighbor—or even as family?
  • What is one practical way you can choose unity, kindness, or compassion in your home, workplace, neighborhood, or church this week?
  • How can you help keep the spirit of togetherness alive without waiting for another tragedy to bring people together?
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Jesus Cares About That Too

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Mark 2:17 – When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Don’t wait till things get too bad to get a check up. Isn’t that, sadly, so normal…to make sure everybody else is okay but to ignore our own pain?

When our children get a cough. “Okay, it’s time to call the pediatrician.”

We say, “Okay, what do you need? Do you need some vitamin C? You need a Flintstones gummy. What else can I do to help?”

But all along, your knees have been cracking for six weeks… maybe six years…and you’re thinking, “Ah, that’s just part of life.”

Why? Why do we wait so long to get things in our lives checked out? Do we not think we matter that much?

Jesus says it does matter. But he wants us to admit it. He didn’t come for people who believed they didn’t need Him. He came for people who recognized their need and were willing to let Him into it. He came for the people who knew something was wrong and were willing to let Him into it.

All you have to do is say, “Hey, Lord, I’m noticing this in my heart. I don’t want it to get bad. Let’s deal with it now.”

You don’t have to wait until the wound is worse to bring it to the Savior and let Him begin His work in you. So today, notice what’s hurting, stop minimizing it, and invite the Lord in before it has a chance to harden or deepen.

Like I said… It matters.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What is something in your heart or life that you’ve been minimizing or ignoring?
  • Why do you think we sometimes find it easier to care for everyone else than to acknowledge what’s hurting in us?
  • Is there an area of your life where you need to admit, “Something isn’t right, and I need Jesus here”?
  • What would it look like to invite Jesus into that area before the hurt has a chance to harden or deepen?
  • What is one thing you can bring to Jesus today instead of continuing to carry it on your own?
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Don’t Judge the Book by its Cover

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2 Timothy 3:16-17 — All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

So we all know that saying, never judge a book by its cover. Well, I think we’ve all at some point judged the Bible by its cover.

Maybe because when many of us see it, we freak out a little. I mean, we know it’s good, and it’s God’s Word, inspired by Him for our lives, but we can be intimidated by it for…well… a lot of reasons.

The language can be confusing. It has some difficult words. It looks like a huge novel, and many people mock it, saying it’s too judgmental and too outdated and just a book full of rules we could never follow.

Whatever the reason, can I encourage you today. Please don’t be intimidated by God’s Word.

The Bible may look intimidating from the outside, but you discover the invitation when you open it. It is the most beautiful, fascinating, adventurous, and exciting book ever. And yes, it can be confusing at times. Absolutely.

But it is full of love and wisdom and adventure and it reveals who God is, who we are, and the story of His rescue through Jesus. It’s not going to tell you specifically where to go on vacation next year or what color to paint your house. But it will teach us principles of right living, right thinking, wisdom, and faith.

It will instruct you through stories of people like us who lived long ago facing many of the same challenges and relational struggles that you and I do today.

And that’s what makes God’s Word so powerful. It teaches, corrects, and trains us so that we can become the people God is calling us to be. It helps us understand what is good, what needs to change, and how to keep growing.

Friend, you don’t have to understand everything before you begin, you just have to be willing to open the cover. Maybe today, that’s all you need to do. Open it. Read a little. Ask God to show you something about Himself, and let the journey begin.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What has intimidated or discouraged you from spending time in God’s Word?
  • When you open the Bible, are you approaching it as a book of rules—or as an invitation to know God better?
  • Is there something God’s Word has recently shown you that needed to change in your life? How did you respond?
  • What is one area of your life where you need God’s wisdom, correction, or direction right now?
  • What would it look like for you to simply “open the cover” today—read a little, ask God to speak, and let the journey begin?
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A Refreshing Plot Twist

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Proverbs 11:25 — A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Have you ever been set up by God?

Like, you sign up to go somewhere thinking you’re going to support somebody else, and then God changes everything?

That’s what happened to Miss Gwendolyn.

She took her granddaughter to the Live Original Conference, which is coming to town this weekend. Her granddaughter had really come to know the Lord through her youth group and loved Sadie Huff. So Miss Gwendolyn thought, “Of course. I’ll get two tickets.”

She imagined them buying merch, taking pictures, and making some memories. That’s really as far as she thought it would go.

But then she stepped into worship.

Through the songs, God started ministering to her heart and revealing that this wasn’t just about the teenagers.

He wanted to meet her, too.

And from that moment on, something began to deepen in Miss Gwendolyn’s relationship with the Lord. Her eyes were opened in a new way, even though she had known Jesus for a long time.

Sometimes we think we’re the ones pouring out, but God has a way of pouring into us at the same time.

That’s what I see in Scripture: whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

And that’s why I think this is such a beautiful reminder for us today:

You never know where God is waiting to meet you.

There is no stage, no age, and no season of life where the Lord can’t still pierce your heart and draw you closer to Him.

You might think you’re showing up for someone else, but remember this:

God refreshes the refresher.

As you encourage someone else, serve someone else, or simply show up for someone else, don’t be surprised if God has something He wants to do in you, too.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever shown up somewhere or served someone else, only to realize God had something He wanted to do in your heart, too?
  • Who is someone you could intentionally encourage or refresh this week?
  • What might it look like to serve someone without focusing only on what you’re giving, but also being open to what God might want to teach you?
  • Is there an area of your relationship with God where you would welcome Him refreshing or renewing you?
  • How does Proverbs 11:25 change the way you think about generosity—not just giving things, but giving your time, attention, encouragement, and presence?
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Can You Sit with Me

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Romans 12:15 — Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Sometimes all we need to do is be in someone’s presence when they’re not feeling so good, when they’re having a bad day, or when they’re going through something difficult.

Yes, just sit in their presence.

We want to solve everything all at once. At least I do.

But that’s not my job.

We don’t have all the right answers or the perfect things to say. And honestly, sometimes there aren’t any words that can make someone’s pain go away.

But God doesn’t ask us to have all the answers. He asks us to love people well, and sometimes that means simply being there.

It reminds me of a story I once heard about a nurse who worked overnight. After her shift, she liked to stop at a park to watch the sunrise. One morning, she noticed someone sitting on a bench, crying.

So she went over and sat beside her.

She didn’t try to fix her. She didn’t rush to explain why everything would be okay. She just sat there and listened.

She was willing to enter into this woman’s sorrow instead of rushing past it—to share, even in a small way, the weight of what this woman was carrying.

They talked, and the nurse learned that this woman was facing one of the hardest seasons of her life. She had come to that park feeling completely alone, but that unexpected conversation gave her hope.

And I think that’s part of what Paul means when he tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

When someone is celebrating, we celebrate with them.

When someone is hurting, we don’t have to rush them out of their pain. We can be willing to sit with them in it.

Sometimes the best gift we can offer is simply showing up.

Because God often ministers His love and comfort through the presence of His people, reminding others that they are not alone.

So maybe today, instead of trying to fix someone’s pain, just sit beside them while they’re feeling it.

Listen. Pray. Stay.

You don’t have to have the answer to be part of God’s answer.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When someone you love is hurting, is your first instinct to listen or to try to fix the problem? Why?
  • Is there someone in your life who might simply need you to show up and be present right now?
  • How can you become better at celebrating with others when they’re happy, even when their joy has nothing to do with you?
  • What makes it difficult for you to sit with someone else’s pain without trying to make it go away?
  • How might God use your presence, even when you don’t have the right words, to remind someone that they aren’t alone?
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The Secret to Being Blessed

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Ephesians 1:3 — All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

The tour bags were still packed when CAIN realized they might not be going anywhere.

You see, siblings Taylor, Madison, and Logan Cain climbed onto their first tour bus a few years ago and, at least in that moment, felt pretty convinced they had so much to be thankful for.

“We’re so blessed,” they kept telling each other.

Then the cancellations started.

Nearly 80 shows disappeared from their calendar. That’s when their little phrase became a joke. They would say, “I’m so blessed,” with just enough sarcasm to make it clear they weren’t feeling very blessed at all.

But eventually, something shifted.

They stopped letting their circumstances determine whether or not they were blessed. Instead, they started looking at what was still there.

They had a heartbeat. Breath in their lungs. Family beside them. And, most importantly, they had Jesus.

That attitude adjustment became the inspiration behind their song, “I’m So Blessed,” played here on 88.7 The Cross. The song celebrates a truth that can be easy to forget: your circumstances don’t get to decide whether you’re blessed.

And underneath all of it is a truth found in Scripture.

Centuries ago, Paul taught the church that in Christ, we have already been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.”

I love that because Paul isn’t saying you’re blessed only when the calendar is full, the bills are paid, your plans work out, or life feels easy.

He points us somewhere deeper.

Your circumstances may change, but what you have in Christ does not.

Because of Jesus, you have God’s grace. You have forgiveness. You have been welcomed into His family. You have an inheritance that isn’t dependent on what happens around you.

So today, before you measure your life by canceled plans, unanswered prayers, or things that aren’t going your way, look again.

Your circumstances may change every day, but your identity is in Christ, and that does not change.

Today, you are still His. You are still loved. And you still have reason to give thanks.

Because real blessing doesn’t start when everything goes right.

It starts with knowing who you belong to.

So when life doesn’t look the way you hoped it would, you can still say:

Because of Jesus, I am blessed anyway.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When life isn’t going the way you hoped, what do you tend to use to measure whether you’re “blessed”?
  • How does Ephesians 1:3 change your understanding of what it means to be blessed?
  • What spiritual blessings do you already have because you belong to Christ?
  • Is there a circumstance in your life right now that has made you feel less blessed? How might you look at that situation differently through the truth of Ephesians 1:3?
  • What is one thing you can thank God for today—not because everything is going well, but because you belong to Jesus?

I’m So Blessed

I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed

Trouble knocking at my door today
I ain’t gonna let it in
And worry wanna steal my joy away
But I ain’t gonna let it win

‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, everyday is a good day
And You’re the reason why

I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed

I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed) (okay)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed

And when I count the problems that I see
Hope looks all, but gone (Yeah)
But when I count the ways You’re good to me
You got me counting all day long
Oh, yeah!

I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed
(Hey) I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed

‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, everyday is a good day
And You’re the reason why
(Hey)’Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, every day is a good day (Every day is a good day)
And You’re the reason why (Reason why)

I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed (Sing it again)
I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
And I’ve Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed (Hey, yeah)

‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God (Oh)
Oh, every day is a good day
And You’re the reason why (Reason why)
‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, everyday is a good day
And You’re the reason why

I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
I’m so blessed
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord
Hallelujah, I’m blessed

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God Isn’t Finished

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Ezekiel 37:5 — This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!

The church had shrunk so small they started wondering whether it ought to keep going.

It had not always been that way.

There had been a time when the parking lot filled up on Sunday morning, children ran through the hallways, and somebody was always making coffee somewhere. But years have a way of changing things. People moved away. Some got older. Some stopped coming. A few left hurt. Before long, the church had become a handful of faithful folks trying to keep the doors open.

Then one day, somebody came and repossessed the copier.

That may not sound like much, but if you have ever been part of a small church, you know better. A church without a copier is getting pretty close to the end of the road.

They simply couldn’t afford it—or much of anything else anymore.

It felt like a sign that the once-vibrant house of worship should start preparing for its own funeral.

Only God wasn’t finished.

So the people started praying. I mean, really praying.

People who hadn’t been around in years came back. A new pastor arrived. The little congregation began looking outside itself again, serving their neighbors and giving to missions. They stopped asking how to keep the church alive and started asking what they could do with the life they still had.

And little by little, something changed.

That dying church found itself welcoming hundreds of people through its doors. The parking lot filled again. The smell of coffee filled the air. And, more importantly, hungry hearts were beginning to taste the goodness of God there like never before.

That story makes me think of Ezekiel standing in that valley.

God showed him a place covered with bones. Not fresh bones, either. Dry bones. Bones that had been there long enough to make the situation seem completely hopeless.

Then God said, “I am going to put breath into you and make you live again.”

God was showing Ezekiel that what looked completely hopeless to His people was not beyond His power to restore. The dry bones were a picture of Israel, a people who felt like all hope was gone. But God had not forgotten them.

And maybe you need that reminder today.

You may be looking at something you have already buried in your heart—a relationship, a dream, a calling, a church, or even a part of yourself. Maybe it really is beyond what you can repair. But that doesn’t mean it is beyond God.

God may not restore every situation in exactly the way we hope or expect. But nothing is beyond His power, and no situation is beyond His ability to bring purpose, hope, and new life.

Friend, it may feel finished, but God hasn’t forgotten you.

What looks like a grave to us can still become a garden.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What situation in your life feels hopeless or “too far gone” right now? Have you brought it honestly to God?
  • Where have you been tempted to decide that something is finished before God has finished His work?
  • What would it look like to stop asking, “How do I keep this alive?” and instead ask, “God, what do You want me to do with the life You’ve given me?”
  • How does Ezekiel 37 remind you that God’s power is greater than what you can see or understand right now?
  • Where might God be inviting you to pray, serve, or take a step of faith even before you see the outcome?

L Y R I C S

I searched the world
But it couldn’t fill me
Man’s empty praise
and treasures that fade
Are never enough

Then You came along
And put me back together
And every desire is now satisfied
Here in Your love

Oh there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord there’s nothing, nothing is better
than You

I’m not afraid
To show You my weakness
My failures and flaws
Lord You’ve seen them all
And You still call me friend

‘Cause the God of the mountain
Is the God of the valley
There’s not a place
Your mercy and grace
Won’t find me again

You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You’re the only one who can

You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You’re the only one who can
You’re the only one who can

Written by Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Tiffany Hammer, Brandon Lake

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When Everything Changes

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Matthew 24:35 — Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

Life feels heavy for a lot of people right now.

I turn on the news and see rising gas prices, wars, uncertainty, and one more thing to worry about tomorrow. But despite all of that, I found it pretty interesting to hear that Bible sales are soaring.

Wow.

In 2025, more than 19 million Bibles were sold in the United States alone—the highest number in more than two decades. Bible sales were up 12% from the year before.

And I have to wonder if part of the reason is that when everything around us feels shaky, we’re looking for something solid.

That’s amazing.

Still, the truth is, a Bible sitting on a shelf won’t change your life.

But opening it might.

Not because every problem suddenly disappears. Not because gas prices go down or the headlines become less scary. But because God’s Word reminds us that what Jesus says is true, certain, and lasting.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”

Heaven and earth may change. The headlines will change. Prices will change. Our circumstances will change. But Jesus’ words will never pass away.

That’s why God’s Word can anchor us when everything else feels uncertain.

So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, don’t start by trying to read the whole Bible. That will definitely overwhelm you.

But can I encourage you to open it?

Maybe start in the Psalms. Sit with a few verses and let God’s Word remind you who He is—and who you are, too.

And if you’d like to go through the Bible Recap with us at 88.7 The Cross, it’s not too late. That can help you understand a little more of what you’re reading.

Because sometimes the greatest peace doesn’t come from knowing what’s going to happen next.

Real peace comes from knowing that God holds both tomorrow and today in His hands.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What feels uncertain or shaky in your life right now? How might God’s unchanging Word speak into that uncertainty?
  • Do you tend to reach for God’s Word when life gets difficult, or is it something you struggle to make time for? Why?
  • What would it look like for you to move your Bible from the shelf into your daily life this week?
  • When you don’t know what tomorrow holds, how does knowing that God’s Word will never pass away give you confidence today?
  • What book of the Bible could you begin reading today—not to finish quickly, but simply to sit with what God is saying?
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Don’t Overlook God’s Gifts

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Philippians 4:19 — And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

I spent way too much time looking at the church conference website.

It was less than 24 hours away, and I really wanted to go. I had been looking forward to it because I knew I needed that time to step away from the noise, to learn, to be encouraged, and to spend intentional time with God.

But I kept staring at that ticket price.

I couldn’t bring myself to pay full price, so I wrestled with the decision until I finally did what I should have done in the first place.

I prayed.

Then I closed the website and went on with my day.

Not long after that, a family member texted me to ask if I was going to the conference. She told me she had planned to go with a friend who could no longer make it. Then she said, “I was hoping you would come instead because I don’t want to sit by myself.”

My jaw hit the floor.

She had a discounted ticket.

I knew God wasn’t obligated to answer my prayer, but He did anyway.

Sometimes we wonder if we should even bring things like that to God. But I’m here to tell you: you can.

He cares about the little things—even things like my budget. Just like His Word says, He takes care of us and supplies our needs out of His glorious riches.

Our Heavenly Father delights in giving good gifts to His children. The God who created heaven and earth cares enough to be involved in the little details of our lives, and that kind of love is almost too wonderful to wrap my mind around.

That day, I experienced God as the Giver—the One who sees what we need, hears our prayers, and provides in ways we could never arrange on our own.

When was the last time you experienced Him that way?

Maybe it wasn’t a conference ticket. Maybe it was an unexpected phone call, a perfectly timed word of encouragement, a door He opened, or something you needed arriving at just the right time.

Whatever it was, don’t rush past it.

Stop and remember: God is your Provider. He sees you, He cares about what you need, and His glorious riches are more than enough.

What has He provided for you lately that deserves a “thank You” today?

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When have you experienced God providing something you needed in an unexpected way?
  • Is there something small you’re hesitant to bring to God because you wonder if it matters to Him?
  • What is one thing God has done for you recently that you don’t want to rush past without thanking Him?
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